Efforts to implement new rules to improve and shorten the period of business licence applications are most welcome.

However, I would like to bring the attention of the relevant department the processing period of "Lesen Rampaian". Many SMEs suffer losses and are also stressed out while waiting for the licence to be approved by the relevant departments.

Sometimes it takes eight or nine months or sometimes a year to have the said licence issued. SME owners have to pay rent for 8 to 12 months of $24K to $50K, pay interest to banks, pay suppliers etc while waiting for the relevant government departments to take their time to inspect the premises and issue the license.

SMEs go 'bankrupt' before they even start their businesses.

I am writing this with the intention and hope that the relevant department will work and coordinate better in providing better services and expedite the processing period of 'Lesen Rampaian' and be more transparent in the requirements. By doing so, it will help SMEs to do better and be more successful and encourage more locals to start businesses.

Perhaps the relevant departments should look to our very efficient neighbour Singapore to learn from them implementation and processing methods.

It is my sincere hope to see Brunei free from red tape and be a country with an efficient government machinery and workforce so more foreign investors will come to Brunei to boost our economy and reduce problems of unemployment.

- Observer

At the launching of the Sukan Mukim-Mukim Daerah Brunei Muara on Saturday July 3, 2005, I was very impressed with the organisation of the ceremony. Everything went on smoothly. In the netball final, Berakas B and Gadong had a competitive game, which was exciting to watch.

However, the refereeing was a disappointment. This was because at times one referee would interfere with the jurisdiction of another referee. Furthermore, those fouls that should have been called were not, which was unfair.

I suggest that both the referees go for intensive training or otherwise provide appropriate justification for the above. This will have an impact on the future development of the game as fairness and equality portrayed by referees are two of the most important factors that play a role in improving the game. Netball in Brunei has the potential to develop, however, professional referees are required to guide the players to play the game appropriately.

- Anti-Bias

My husband and I were unfortunate to travel on flight BI825 to Kota Kinabalu on June 9. Passengers had boarded the aircraft, which was due to take-off at 4.40pm, when the Captain announced that there would be a slight delay. Then at 5.05pm, he said there was a fault which would take 30-45 minutes to repair and requested all the passengers to leave the aircraft.

We re-boarded the aircraft at 5.45pm to take-off at 6.00pm. The aircraft moved towards the runway but had to wait for another aircraft to leave the runway first. At 6.30pm the Captain told us that there was another electrical fault and we had to leave the aircraft again!

As the aircraft had moved away from the terminal building we had to return there using buses, and then had to climb a dark narrow staircase with no lighting. This was particularly difficult for elderly passengers and those with babies and young children.

Once in the departure lounge a member of the ground staff made a very short announcement saying we would be taking off for KK at 8.00pm.

We finally boarded a different aircraft just after 8.00 pm, our take-off was delayed again as we had to wait for a member of the standby crew that had been called out. She arrived at 8.22pm and we took off at 8.25pm.

We understand that technical faults happen and we are not complaining about that. Our complaint is about the service or the total lack of it from the RBA ground staff. Apart from one short announcement after leaving the aircraft for the second time, we got no apologies or any information. The flight was about 95 per cent full, with many foreign passengers, Malaysian families in particular, some with very young children.

During this delay nobody was offered any refreshment, not even a glass of water. Some passengers were in transit, others had left home/hotel at 2.00pm to check-in for this flight which finally landed at 9.00pm in KK. During all that time all we had was a small glass of fruit juice when we boarded the first time and the third time.

The pilots were very apologetic as were a few of the cabin crew, particularly a Singaporean stewardess on the first aircraft.

We heard several passengers, some flying RBA for the first time, say they will never fly RBA again.

My husband and I are Bruneians and felt thoroughly ashamed at the way RBA treated all those passengers.

Coincidentally, while waiting for our return flight at KK airport, an announcement was made regarding a MAS flight that was delayed for approximately 1 hours.

The passengers on that flight were immediately asked to go for refreshments. Surely, this is the standard practice or should be the standard practice.

Finally, I quote from page 20 of the latest edition of Muhibah - RBA's in-flight magazine: "RBA's pledge is to continue investing the very best human and technological resources in its mission to serve and serve well."

The passengers on flight BI 825 on June 9 were definitely not served well.

- Unfortunate Travellers

I read a letter written by MetalHead 101 in the Opinion page dated June 6, addressing the problem that metal-music fans are facing in Brunei.

I agree with MetalHead, who made excellent points about the prejudice that we are subjected to. I remember reading an article in the Borneo Bulletin (quite some time ago) that was written about teenagers who listened to metal and punk-rock. It actually complained about the fact that we wore black T-shirts. Since when did wearing black t-shirts make people drug-users or law-offenders? And since the article I am discussing was from an old issue of the newspaper, it only stresses the unfortunate truth that we have been discriminated against for quite some time.

I think this whole issue is a pity because being stereotyped does not help local bands in Brunei. I personally don't know any metalheads who do drugs, or drink. We should be aiming to encourage and support Brunei's young talentnot dismiss them as troublemakers.

I hope that we can overcome the prejudice and misconceived perceptions of metal music.

- Music Lover

I am a fan of our local B-league which is being played throughout the country. While it may not be as glamorous as other football leagues elsewhere, it generates enough interest among football enthusiasts here, myself being one. I know the league has kicked off a few weeks ago.

Although the fixtures and results are published in the local media, I think it would be more convenient if the B-league has its own web site that can keep us football fans updated with upcoming fixtures, latest results, current top scorers, team profiles, and league standings for both Division 1 and Division 2.

This will help to raise interest among local fans. If I am not mistaken, the B-league has entered its fourth season and still I cannot find any web site being dedicated to the B-league.

I hope someone in the B-league can do something about it.

- Soccer fan

Teach English medium subjects in English

To primary school teachers, please do try hard to teach English medium subjects in English because we secondary teachers are faced with difficulties.

For example, when we give instructions in English, the students don't respond because they don't understand what we want. And when we try giving the same instructions with a few phrases of Malay added in, they reply 'aaahh... ok' and do what they have been told do.

I asked them whether they were so used to getting Malay instructions, and they nodded in agreement. Mind you, they come from different primary schools.

Most of the English medium subject teachers may not speak the language fluently but we must try to raise the standard of English education to international standard. Haven't you been listening to kids on the Disney channel from other parts of Asia? I am not trying to offend anyone here, but teachers at the primary level must have to make sure that their language of instruction in English medium classes has to be English, not in Malay or Chinese. But in order to make the students understand, if the teachers switch completely to another language other than English then there is very little scope for students to advance their prowess in the language.

I want to make sure our kids, who are our future, to have an excellent standard of English. I have faith in our secondary schools and I know we can provide the same standard if we try, hence the reason I am still teaching.

We have to start from the roots. The roots of our secondary education are the primary education. Children's language acquisition is at its best in their formative years of education.

So please ensure all English medium subjects are taught in English language no matter how challenging it is. I am not talking about making it easier for the secondary teachers, do it for the children's sake.

- Secondary teacher

We refer to the opinion in BB edition July 6, 2005 entitled "Five Days Without e-Speed service and still counting" by e-Speed Hater.

We regret to learn the predicament faced by the writer that he/she was unable to connect to the Internet for five days using e-Speed.

We acknowledge that there have been some reports of telephone line failures especially due to system upgrades inadvertently affecting e-Speed 1 and e-Speed 2 customers.

To assist us in our investigation, we seek the cooperation of the writer to contact the undersigned directly, giving details of his/her e-Speed account number so that we can carry out a through investigation and hopefully resolve his/her e-Speed problem at the soonest.

We assure you our best endeavour to serve you better.

- Adri HM Arshad
- Corporate Communications
- Jabatan Telekom Brunei

I really envy the customer of e-Speed who had complained in the Opinion column last Wednesday about his problem of not having e-Speed for five days.

My problem has been for two months now and counting also.

It's not 121 to be blamed but the technical people in e-Speed 2 who always tell me to change my modem. It's been over half-a-dozen times I have heard the same answer.

If the e-Speed 2 technical team is not experienced to handle technical situations then they should make room for people who know what they are doing in their job.

I have spoken to many at JTB and yet my problem keeps coming back over and over again. When can JTB actually resolve this issue?

Will JTB reimburse my subscription fees for the months that I have paid already?

I think that would be the best decision to make now.

Dial-Up would probably still be the best option.

In hindsight, I should have waited and opted for e-Speed 1 as at that time there was a storage of modems.

JTB, please terminate my e-Speed 2 connection and reimburse the subscription fees so that I can afford e-Speed 1.

- Frustrated User